Export driven market holds
• Lamb prices have taken a hit in recent months. Image supplied.
By Taylor Clyne
July 29, 2020
Fat cattle prices have remained strong, well in excess of $6.00 per kg dressed which is largely thanks to the export market in America and China who are relying on Australian produce.
This has also boosted and sustained the store cattle market which are selling well across the board.
Elders livestock agent Daniel Morice said last weeks 20mls of rain will kick on the grass and hope to set producers up for a good spring.
“It’s been a pretty good season, there seems to be enough grass around which certainly helps,” he said.
“Local farmers have been going pretty well, everything is price driven.
“Cattle numbers have dropped off slightly now which is pretty normal for winter.”
Mr Morice said coronavirus had presented its own challenges for the market with shutdowns of abattoirs in Melbourne directly affecting the lamb prices.
“It’s mainly affected lamb prices, they have come back by $50-$60 per head,” he said.
“JBS on the mainland was shut down for two weeks due to an outbreak so they have been sending animals down to Tasmania to be killed while they were shut.”
An Australian Lamb Company abattoir at Colac is currently closed for cleaning due to another outbreak. This company is a major buyer in the Tasmanian lamb market.
“The price has been wound back from $9kg to say $7kg which would also be because exports of lamb prices have dropped due to fewer eating at the restaurants,” Mr Morice said.
“Most of the local lamb producers were gone six weeks ago, those lambing later in the season, like now will feel the pinch.”
The world cattle herd is down significantly as is the Australian cattle herd, that gives some confidence for prices to be maintained during the springtime.
The biggest threat to cattle prices is a flush of beef coming out of South America, where many abattoirs in Brazil, Argentina and Chile are closed due to coronavirus but must be close to re-opening.
Tasmanian butcher cattle have maintained their value.
The Powranna Store Sale prices from July 23 are listed below.
VR Goss sold 20 Heifers 290kg $1140 $3.93kg and 14 Steers 305kg $1300 $4.26kg.
J.O Hurst sold 5 Heifers 300kg $1030 $3.43kg and 10 Steers 300kg $1190 $3.96kg.
AJ & KL Coplestone sold 3 Heifers 286kg $986 $3.44kg and 5 Steers 318kg $1152 $3.62kg.
E Hanslow sold 10 Steers 400kg $1200 $3kg.
Ansons Meadows sold 50 Steers 254kg $1136 $4.47.
AJ Sowell sold 10 Heifers 275kg $867 $3.15kg and 4 Steers 287kg $1100 $3.83kg.
A Williams sold 4 Steers 385kg $1287 $3.34kg.
NE Harvesters sold 14 Heifers 240kg $870 $3.62kg and 4 Steers 292kg $1120 $3.83kg.
D Hall sold 7 Heifers 347kg $1190 $3.43kg.
CA & JL Mountney sold 13 Steers 358kg $1440 $4.02kg and 4 Heifers 380kg $1370 $3.60kg.
M Zegveld sold 10 Steers 247kg $1065 $4.30kg.